The Republican Caucus of the Tennessee House of Representatives voted 45-24 (some reports are 47-22), essentially a 2 to 1 margin, that they no longer had confidence in Glen Casada to continue to serve as House Speaker. There are no reports at this time indicating whether the House GOP caucus took up the potential for expelling Glan Casada from the House which is a separate procedure.
John Harris, Tennessee Firearms Association Executive Director, stated “The TFA lost all confidence, what little it might have had, in Glen Casada as House Speaker when proof became public about numerous matters which clearly showed that Glen Casada not only made numerous serious mistakes of judgment but when he also engaged in intentional actions to try to cover up or conceal his involvement and then, according to House Ethics Committee member Mike Carter, Glen Casada attempted to predetermine and rig what should have been an independent House Ethics Committee investigation.”
The massive blow to Glen Casada from a 2-1 “no confidence” vote should cause him to realize that he has lost the respect not only of many Tennesseans who were motivated to call for his resignation but also by a super majority of his own House caucus. Harris continued, “Casada should have the integrity to resign but indicators at this time are that he will not. Such refusal to accept reality rings of narcissism on his part and should cause Governor Lee and the other members of the General Assembly to immediately call a special session to have a removal vote.” While some might suggest that the legislature is out of session and so there is no rush, the Legislature conducts a lot of business during this period including summer study hearings, public speaking by the Speaker at many events, and foreseeable efforts by Glen Casada to raise money for his private political action committee which is being investigated by a special prosecutor.
According to House Rules, which incorporate Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure, the removal of the “presiding officer” of either House only calls for a majority vote of that body. This is contrasted with an “expulsion vote” to remove an individual as a member of the House which requires a two-thirds vote.
Harris noted “A broad spectrum of House members came out in advance of today’s meeting to encourage Glen Casada to resign without the need for this meeting, but he refused. If a vote is held in session, it is likely that more than 50 House members would now formally vote to remove Glen Casada as Speaker because their votes on this issue should be on the public record.”
Reports indicate that the House “no confidence” vote was a secret ballot which still was 2-1 against Glen Casada. Harris concluded “Tennesseans are entitled to and should be told who the 25 House member were who voted to maintain confidence in Glen Casada today were. We can anticipate that Susan Lynn, Wilson County, was one of them based on her opinion editorial published last week in the Tennessean but the others should be identified because their positions on retaining Glen Casada as the third most powerful office in the state is an issue that voters should weigh carefully in the 2020 election cycle.”
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